Draft-gear.



J. F. COURSON.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22.1917.

Patented Au. 21, 1917.

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To all whom itma y concern: a I

Be it known that I, J OHN, F. CoUnsoN, a

citizen of the United, States, residing at Pitcairn, in the county, of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft- Gears, of which the following is a specification. I 1 I My invention is an improvement in draft gears and is designed to provide for absorption of the shocks of. buffing and pulling strains by means ofan extensible spring. Such spring is so mounted within a suitable frameworkas to be elongated in one, direction or the othervof two opposite directions, whereby its single member sinuous or bent form may be changed in a longitudinal clirection by stretching, with the accompanying resistance .due to the tendency of the spring to assume its original shape. This effect is secured with a steadily increasing indicated by the line II, II, of

resistance proportionedto the strain, effecting a resulting reaction and desirable-resistance. I

One preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a complete gear as assembled, in normal position, indicated by the line I, I, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizf ntal section,

Fig. 3 is a cross-section indicated by the line III, III, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 2, but showing the spring extended, as in buffing.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the spring detached.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the use of a plural leaf spring.

In the drawings, 2 represents the drawbar of a coupler connected with the front end portions of side members or bars 3, 3, by a transverse bolt or key 4, engaging holes 5 thereof. i

Side bars 3 are mounted between the center sills 7 7, upon transverse keys or bolts ,8, 9, which in turn extend by their ends JoHn r. counson, or rrrrcnmn, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAFT-GEAR.

Specification of Letterltmtent. Patentigd'Aug 21, 1917, i v ApplicatibnfiledJanuary 22,1917. Seria1No.143,549.

key 8 in builingand key 9 inpulling, under the strain of the-spring 6 in one direction or the other. Side bars 3 are likewise provided with slots 13, 13, and 14c, 14:, which extend forwardlvand backwardly beyond intervening bearing terminals l5 at the rear portion of each slot. 1

Said slots 13,141, by their inner terminals, also engage keysS and 9, bars 3 pulling key 8 forwardly in draw-bar pulling strains and pushing key 9 rearwardly in buffing.

As will be seen, slots 10, 11, 13, and 14 are of ample length to provide clearance for full movement ofthe keys. I

The active shock-absorbing element ofthe gear is the spring 6, of one or more continuous bands of suitable resilient metal, as steel,

and which is formed between its connecting terminals into an alternating, ous, or other preferred form. 7

Under certain conditions even an ordinary spiral spring might bentilizechhaving terminal loops for engagement with the, keys 8and9. a

In the construction shown, the spring is made of a continuous piece of band steel having alternating diagonally disposed portions and so bent as to effect a high degree of resistance when the spring is stretched. The end portions of the spring are provided with key holes or sockets 16, 16, through which extend keys 8 and 9, respectively as shown, and which operate to exert a lengthening tension on the spring in opposite directions, under either pulling or draft strains.

Thus, in action, side members 3 are thrust backwardly by the draw-bar in buffing, carrying key 9 rearwardly away from engagement with the center sills, while key 8 continues to bear against the center sills, restraining the other end of spring key 9 carries it rearwardly.

n sills and side members 3 carry key 8 forwardly, stretching the spring in the same way. Upon release of pressure in either direction the spring and the other members will at once return being understood that the spring is under a certain degree of tension when placed in position in the gear. a

In Fig. 6, I illustrate the use of a plural leaf spring 6 composed of three or any de sired number of leaves laid side by side and each engaging by its hole 16 the forward key 8 or the rear key in the same manner.

zigzag, sinu- 6' while pulling, key 9 is resisted by the center i to normal position, it'

In such construction, the strength and resulting resistance of the spring member may be increased to any desired practicable de-' ree. The construction and operation of the gear: Will be readily understood. from the foregoing description and it will be found togetout'of order.

What l claim is: I

1; In a gear, in combination with carfraining, a pair ofkeys in-slot'ted abutting engagelnent with the framing, a tension spring connecting said keys, and a drawbar having a pai-r of sidebars iii-slotted engagement Withsaidkeys adapted to engage the inner portion of either of said keys to move it away from the other and from abutting engage'ment with the framing.

2. In a gear, in combination with car framing, a pair o'f keys in slotted engagementwith the framing, a tens-ion spring'connecting said keys, and a pair of longitudinally'slotted bars embracing said keys and operable to more either away from the other.

3. In a gear, in combination with car framing, a pair of'key's in slotted engagement with the framing, a tension spring connecting 'said' ke'ys, a .p'air of longitudinally slotted bars embracing said keys and operable to more either away from the other, a draw-bar, and a transverse key connecting said bars therewith.

- 4:. In a gear, in combination with car series of alternately bent diagonally disposed portions and connected to said keys by its terminals, apair of longitudinally slotted bars embracing said keys, and a draw-bar connected to said bars.

5. In gear, incombination with car framing having longitudinal perforating slots beyond intervening'fixed abutments, a longitudinally movable frame provided with hearing portions between clearance openings, a pair of transi 'erse keys extending ateach side of said bearing portions through said. openings extending through-said slots and adapted to-engagesaid abutnients, and a continuously alternating spring having terminals connected with each ofsa-id keys.

6.111 a gear, in combination with slotted sills, a pair of transverse keys extending thereth-rough, a tension spring connecting said keys by its'terminals,-a pair of side bars having slotted clearance engagement with said keys, and a draw-bar connected to said bars,

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

JOHN F. COURSON.

fiupiesaofithis matentmay be-obtainedvfnrfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' i L. Washington, D. G. 

